New York Pride: your guide to the best gay parties, events and more

New York Pride is one of the biggest gay prides in the world. Every year, around 3-4 million people descend on the city to take part in this fantastic and glorious event, rivaling Sao Paulo as one of the largest and biggest.

New York is also where our Pride history began, back in 1969, following a spate of police riots on gay establishments. On the 28th of June 1969, the police raided the Stonewall Inn. But this time, the LGBTQ community fought back, which led to a series of riots and protest movements, calling for the advancement of LGBTQ rights. These protest movements quickly spread all around the world, and voila, Pride was born!

The LGBTQ Movement has made huge leaps forward since Stonewall, but there is progress to be made, which is why Pride still matters today

We always love coming to NYC. It's super exciting and always has something going on in every street you roam. These are the streets where the Godfather was set, where Sarah Jessica Parker sashayed down dreaming of Mr. Big, and the place where FRIENDS was set. NYC during Pride is perhaps the most exciting of all, especially for LGBTQ travelers. We've put together this comprehensive guide for New York during Pride, including the best parties to check out, the main Pride events, the best places to stay, and things to do.

Discover the history of gay New York

Make sure you spend some time exploring the most important gay locations and monuments while you're in New York. The area near the Stonewall Inn and Greenwich Village is filled with important sites relating to the history of Pride.

Find out more

A word about New York Pride

Because New York is where the Stonewall Riots started the whole movement of Pride, this is always an incredible time to visit the city. Pride NYC is the place to be and the gay event of the year! If you visit during June you'll be able to celebrate just over half a century of LGBTQ pride with some of the best parties, talks, film screenings, theatre performances, art exhibitions, and more.

When is New York Pride?

The main Pride parade takes place on the last Sunday of June from around noon. Check their website and Facebook page for the most up-to-date info.

Other Pride events will be taking place throughout June, which is nicknamed, “Pride Month“. The climax of New York Pride is on the last weekend of June, which coincides with the date of the 1969 Stonewall riots.

Where will Pride take place?

The Pride Parade kicks off at noon at Madison Square Park on the last Sunday in June. It will pass by the Stonewall Inn and the AIDS memorial before looping through Manhattan, then ending in Chelsea. The total estimated time to walk the route is around 1.5 hours, so remember to bring plenty of water and suncream if you're participating. If you just want to watch, the entire thing can go on for more than nine hours!

A huge variety of other events will be taking place at locations throughout New York City in June, from rallies to parties, to lectures and film screenings.

Main events at New York Pride

There will be many events taking place in New York City during Pride month, like fairs, concerts, marches, film screenings, and lectures. Here are some of the best to look out for:

• Pride Opening Ceremony: the opening ceremony concert for Pride is always epic, and usually takes place on the Wednesday before the parade at Barclays Centre from 6 pm. There are live music acts and special guests, Whoopi Goldberg hosted in 2019!

• Pride Island concert: Pride Island is a multi-day live music event that takes place on the last weekend of June on Pier 97 at Hudson River Park. It's a huge party with live music and international DJs, Madonna even performed in 2019! You do have to be over 21 to attend though and get your tickets quickly as it often sells out very fast.

• The NYC Dyke March (FREE): the New York City Dyke March is more in keeping with the feeling of the original Pride marches, in that it is a protest march instead of a parade. This march usually takes place the day before the main parade, beginning at Bryant Park at 5 pm and finishing in Washington Square Park. The march is a space for anyone who identifies as a Dyke to protest the discrimination, harassment, and violence they face in schools, at work, and within their communities.

• PrideFest street fair (FREE): PrideFest is an annual LGBTQ street fair that combines exhibitors, entertainers, and activities for a day of fun and celebration in the name of equality. Taking place from 11 am to 6 pm, it's the perfect event to check out after watching the parade, and it's totally free! The fair takes up the entire street of 4th Avenue between Union Square and Astor Place.

• Pride Closing Ceremony: The closing ceremony for Pride usually takes place at Times Square directly after the parade, with a concert featuring artists such as Melissa Etheridge, Jake Shears, MNEK, and Deborah Cox.

Best parties at New York WorldPride

Since New York is such a huge and vibrant city, there are always a lot of Pride parties to attend during the entire month of June! Here are some of the best annual ones to look out for:

• Romy And Michele's Saturday Afternoon Tea Dance: hosted at Club Cumming, this fun event takes place every Saturday in June from 3 pm. There's sure to be lots of table dancing and maybe a few celebs in attendance. The club is named after the gay actor, Alan Cumming, who owns it.

• Mister Sundays: This is an alfresco house and techno party which takes place every Sunday from 3-9 pm in the outdoor area of Nowadays. As well as DJs playing funky beats there's also a food truck serving delicious Caribbean food, a barbecue stand, and a full bar with everything from cocktails to kombucha!

• Folsom Street East Street Festival XXII: Folsom Street East hosts a street festival/party as the closing act of the NYC Fetish Weekend, the weekend before the pride parade. Celebrating S.L.U.T.S (Sex, Love, Unity, Trust, and Safety), this festival in Chelsea features a variety of stalls and performances for you to get a taste of the kinky side of New York.

• Pride Pool Party: the biggest annual Pride pool party is usually held in the Roommate Grace Hotel on the Saturday before the parade from 12-4 pm. This is another NYC not-to-miss Pride highlight, with cocktails and fun in the pool. Just make sure you get your tickets asap as it quickly sells out.

• Torture Garden New York Pride Fetish Ball: the world's largest international fetish club always has its own special party for Pride, usually held at Capitale. Inside this multi-level bank-turned-ballroom, there will be a latex fashion show, BDSM play-space, and international DJs.

• Femme Fatale: one of the best lesbian Pride parties. It takes place on the night of parade day, usually at a rooftop location, and features international DJs and an inclusive atmosphere.

Where to stay in New York for Pride

When it comes to accommodation, New York has so many options to suit all budgets. You can expect most places here to be gay-friendly. We've never had an issue here and most hotel folk won't bat an eyelid. The real problem with finding a place to stay in NYC is the budget – it's not cheap here! If you're heading here on a budget, we recommend checking out the listings on Airbnb or MisterBnB.

With that being said, these are some of the best gay / gay-friendly hotels and guesthouses to check out in New York City:

01

YOTEL New York Times Square

Hell's Kitchen

For a 4-star hotel in New York City, the prices are pretty reasonable. There are lots of amenities and services to make your stay more enjoyable as well. There's a small gym to keep fit, and the Green Fig Restaurant serves delicious Mediterranean fusion cuisine.

If you book a suite with a terrace you'll be able to use the outdoor soaking tub during summer, and there's also a rooftop terrace for drinks. All the ‘cabins' feature adjustable SmartBeds so you can make sure you have a heavenly night's sleep.

02

Chelsea Pines Inn

Chelsea

The room rates are quite affordable by New York standards, and you can choose between standard rooms, singles, a suite, or an apartment. A free continental breakfast is served every day, which you can enjoy in the breakfast lounge, indoor greenhouse, or leafy backyard terrace garden (weather permitting).

We love the little extras here, such as the complimentary coffee, hot chocolate, and cookies that can be enjoyed in the lounge late at night. The rooms are all decorated with film posters from the Golden Age of Hollywood, as well as being named after starlets such as Kim Novak and Doris Day.

03

HI New York City Hostel

Upper West Side

Rooms here are very modern, clean, stylish, and comfortable. There's an on-site cafe to buy drinks and snacks or you can use the fully-stocked kitchen to cook for yourself. There are also lots of shared areas to relax and socialize, perhaps over a game of pool or giant Jenga!

The best part about HI New York is all the activities/extras on offer, such as free tours of the area, free breakfast, pub crawls, comedy nights, and more. This is a great place to stay for those who want to have fun while not breaking the bank.

04

The Moore

Chelsea

Best things to do in New York

There are so many amazing things to see and do in New York during Pride, but we've narrowed down our favorites so you don't miss out on the quintessential must-dos:

Go on a Gay New York tour

When visiting New York, a tour of the main gay areas is a must for learning about the city's LGBTQ+ history. This comprehensive tour will take you to all the main gay sites such as Gay Street, the Stonewall Inn, the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop, the NYC AIDS Memorial, and the Stonewall National Monument while explaining the significance of each. You'll get to enjoy a complimentary drink at the oldest gay bar in the city called “Juliu”, as well as a yummy ice cream cone at “Big Gay Ice Cream”! If you don't have as much time, this shorter tour also covers all the main gay sites in Greenwich village including the Stonewall Inn.

Ascend the Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is perhaps one of the most recognizable buildings in the world, certainly in New York. This famous art deco skyscraper was completed in 1931, held the title of the world's tallest building for over 40 years, and has been named one of the seven wonders of the modern world by the American Society of Civil Engineers. The highest open-air observatory in New York is located on the 86th floor and is a must-visit for incredible views of the city. If however, you want to be able to see the Empire State Building itself, then the Top of the Rock experience at Rockefeller Centre is also a great viewing spot!

See a Broadway Show

Theatre lovers will not want to miss out on another quintessential New York City activity: watching a Broadway show! There are no fewer than 41 professional theatres located in the Broadway theatre district of New York, so you'll have plenty to choose from. You can't beat a classic like The Phantom of the Opera, while childhood Disney fans will want to catch either Aladdin or our absolute favorite: The Lion King. We've actually seen it four times already and we may or may not have cried each time we've watched that opening scene!

Visit the Statue of Liberty

Perhaps the most famous icon of New York and America itself is the Statue of Liberty, a colossal neoclassical style sculpture residing on Liberty Island in New York Harbour. Gifted to the United States by the people of France, ‘Lady Liberty' symbolizes freedom and is a major tourist attraction. If you want to visit (and go inside the statue) you'll need to purchase tickets, which include the ferry and museum entry. You can get good views of the statue from the free Staten Island Ferry or, for a truly incredible view of the lady, why not go for a helicopter ride above her?

Experience New York's Museums

New York City is home to hundreds of museums and art galleries, many of which are famous attractions in their own right. If you don't have too long in the city, then a visit to the MET (Metropolitan Museum of Art) is our number one choice. Not only are the entrance steps and fountains a popular filming location for TV shows like Gossip Girl, but the inside of the museum is home to nearly 2 million works of art! The MET actually has three different locations in New York, the most well-known is the main building on Fifth Avenue.

Explore Central Park

Central Park is one of the most visited parks in the United States as well as being the most filmed location in the world – hello: “Sex and the City”! Spending some time exploring this huge oasis in the middle of busy New York should not be skipped, whether you go for a picnic, jogging on one of the many trails, hire a boat on the lake, or maybe a horse-drawn carriage ride just like Carrie and Mr. Big. There are numerous famous monuments to find, as well as a zoo, restaurants, sporting fields, and ice-skating rinks in the winter. You'll never run out of things to do here.

Visit Central Perk!

Fans of the hit TV show “Friends” will be excited to visit the building that served as the location of exterior shots for the show, as well as the Central Perk cafe on the ground floor. The building is located at 90 Bedford Street in Greenwich Village. Today, Central Perk is a Mediterranean restaurant. If you want to visit the cafe set (as well as the apartment interiors) from the show, then you'll need to go to Los Angeles and join a Warner Bros. Studio Tour.

Take a “Sex and the City” Tour

There are plenty of filming locations from “Sex and the City” that you can visit throughout New York. We recommend joining a Sex and the City Hotspots Tour which shows you many of the locations from both the series and the SATC movies. Some of the most famous include Carrie's apartment, Aidan's furniture store, and the church where Samantha met ‘Friar F**k'. Bonus points if you dress up as your favorite SATC character for the tour which does include a stop for cocktails, of course!

Shop Up a Storm

New York City is an absolute mecca for those that like to shop up a storm, with 5th Avenue perhaps the most famous shopping strip in the world. The opening scene of Breakfast At Tiffany's shows Audrey Hepburn looking into the Tiffany and Co. shop on 5th Avenue, which we've tried to recreate on a few occasions…! Other exclusive high-end brands with store locations on 5th Avenue include Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Harry Winston, Saks and so many more. For even more retail therapy head to Macy's, Bloomingdale's, or Barney's.

Enjoy the street art

As well as all the wonderful art museums, New York is home to lots of incredible open-air art in the form of graffiti and murals. The Bushwick Collective is an outdoor art gallery in Brooklyn, which has lots of amazing pieces to discover. If you join a tour you'll be able to learn about the history of the project from a local graffiti artist as well. There's also plenty of cool street art on the main island of Manhattan, including the famous Bowery Wall and murals by Space Invader. Go for a wander around and see what you can spot!

Map of New York Pride

We've made a map showing the location of all the places and events we've talked about in this article to make it easy for you to plan your own fabulous celebration of Pride in New York:

Before you go

Check out these handy hints and tips to help you plan your trip to the Big Apple:

For more inspiration:

• Discover the gay scene of Fort Lauderdale as well as the gay scene of Miami
• Read our complete gay travel guide to Sarasota
• Explore Gay Tampa with us
• Read about gay travel to Key West.
• Read what we think are the best Pride events in the world.
• Check out what we think are the top Pride events in Latin America.
• Check out what we think are the most gay friendly countries in the world.
• Heading to Asia? Read what we think are the most gay friendly countries in Asia.

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